Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II, Part 139

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed
Number of Pages: 1314

USA > Mississippi > Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II > Part 139

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of lodge No. 305, of the A. F. & A. M., of Booneville, is a member of the State Medical asso- ciation and the American Medical association. Prior to the war he was a whig, but has since been a democrat. He keeps himself posted on all the issues of the day, aud is alive to all matters of importance, both of a political and social nature, but is not an office seeker, pre- ferring to devote his time to his profession. He has a pleasant home and has given con- siderable attention to planting and stockraising, his cattle being of the Devonshire breed. He was appointed a commissioner of the state lunatic asylum, while B. G. Humphries was gov- ernor, and is a particular friend of Governor Stone. He is a man of unblemished reputation and well liked.

Dr. J. M. Taylor is an eminent physician of the state, but is especially well known in Alcorn, and surrounding counties, where he has resided the most of his life. He is the youngest of the thirteen children born to John Taylor, whose sketch appears above. He came to Mississippi with his father in 1839, and settled in the vicinity of Old Danville, now in Alcorn, then in Tishomingo county, where he attained his majority on the home farm and his education at home. Owing to the newness of the country at that time and the scarcity of schools, his advantages were very limited, but being possessed of a strong will and a determination to become a well-informed man, he applied himself diligently to his studies, whenever he could find the time, and, with the assistance of his father, made quite a thorough study of astronomy, philosophy, etc. Although his father was somewhat opposed to more than an ordinary education, he was persuaded by an old friend to allow his son, J. M., to enter a good school, although it was understood that after one year's attendance he was to return home and assist his father for one year. This J. M. Taylor readily agreed to do, after which he took a thorough course in Greek and Latin. He remained with his father until he commenced the study of medicine, reading under an elder brother, Dr. W. A. Taylor, at Old Danville, attending his first course of lectures in 1848-9 at Louisville, Ky. He began practicing his profession at Jacinto, the county seat of Tishomingo county at that time. Upon his return from college and in the eighteen months that he remained at this place, his skill and success in his practice made him very popular. He obtained enough money during this time to enable him to enter the Jefferson Medical college of Phila- delphia, Penn., from which institution he was graduated as an M. D. Soon after this he located at West Point, Ga., where he was engaged in the drug business for some time with a cousin, but he soon after gave up this work and went to Griffin, Ga., where he was mar- ried on the 8th of October, 1851, to Miss Mary E. Cox. A short time after the celebration of their marriage they came to Jacinto, Miss., where he resumed his former practice, but had only resided there a short time when they returned to Georgia, settling at McDonough. A short time after this he was urged so strongly by his many friends at Jacinto to return there that he did so, but with the intention of locating permanently at Rienzi, then a pros- perous village on the line of the Mobile & Ohio railroad, then under construction, where he successfully practiced his profession until the war opened. He then sold his property and came to Corinth in 1870, which place has since been his home and where he has built up an extended practice. Fate has always been the Doctor's friend. Indeed, his superior talents seemed to mark him as her favorite for his efficiency, skill and signal success are too well known to elaborate, suffice it to say that he does a large practice both in Corinth and adjoining towns, as well as in the country and on the railroads leading into the city. Although he has always done a general practice, circumstances early forced him to devote special attention to surgery and the diseases and accidents peculiar to women, brauches very much neglected in the country, especially until the last few years. He has several times

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performed the operations of lithotomy, tracheotomy, hemitomy, resection of bones, cata- ract, excision of tumors, etc., also a great many operations in plastic surgery. His office has been the starting point for several young men scattered over different states, who have become ornaments to the profession. His. first pupil, Dr. Elvis McCrory, became a distin- guished surgeon in the Confederate army. Having volunteered as a private in the Second Mississippi regiment soon after returning from college, he went immediately to the front in Virginia, where he was soon made a full surgeon. He died early in the war, with the rank of brigade surgeon. His funeral was one of the most imposing ever held in the army. Dr. T. L. Patterson, a prominent physician in Charleston, Mo., studied medicine in Dr. Taylor's office before the war. Dr. W. H. McDougal and Dr. D. T. Price were students when the war began and went out with their preceptor, through whose influence they were retained in the medical service until the battle of Fort Donelson, at which place Price was captured with Dr. Taylor and retained as a prisoner of war until the general exchange. After the close of the war they returned to the Doctor's office and completed their studies, after which Dr. McDougal located at Rienzi, where he receutly died, and Dr. Price at Boonville, Miss., where they soon became leading physicians and citizens. Dr. Feemster, another pupil located in Lee county, Miss., stands fair in the profession in his locality. Dr. W. C. Steele, after passing through his pupilage, did a general practice for a few years and then made a specialty of the eye, ear and throat, and located in Chattanooga, Tenn., where he does a good practice and occupies a professorship in the medical department of the U. S. Grant university. Dr. M. A. Taylor, a nephew and namesake is located in Honey Grove, Tex., and ranks with the best physicians in that country. Dr. Brewer, another pupil is doing a good practice in the Indian territory. Dr. G. C. Chandler, of Nacogdoches, La., has made considerable local reputation, both as a physician and surgeon. Dr. B. M. Bishop, after going through the ordinary course of study, commenced practice with his preceptor, and at once entered into a large and varied practice. Within the first year of his practice, when only twenty-three years of age, he performed the operation of ovariotomy and also Tait's operation with com- plete success, and entire relief in both cases. The Doctor's son, Charles M. and I. T. Bynum, have recently commenced the practice, the former at Kossuth, Miss., and the latter in middle Texas, with satisfactory prospects. These young men were all famous sons, and obtained their preliminary education in the schools in their respective neighborhoods. Dr. Taylor always has taken a deep and personal interest in all his pupils, and succeeded admirably in infusing into them his own enthusiasm and devotion to his profession. He received most of them into his house, treating them as part of his family, and they have ever retained for him the profoundest respect, gratitude and confidence. He omitted no opportunity to impart instruction as far as he could, both by precept and example, and did not hesitate to employ restraint and correction whenever he deemed it necessary. He is one of the founders of the State Medical association, has done a great deal for the society, and is well and favorably known throughout the state, having been, from its organization, an active member of the state board of health, its organization being brought about in great part by his earnest efforts. He was for some time chairman of the executive committee of the State Medical association, which committee is the nucleus of the board of health; was president of the State Medical society in 1874; has taken a deep and abiding interest in both organizations, and has been a member of the American Medical association since 1873. He was vice president of the State Medical association for some time, and has always believed in medical legislation, having written many articles of note for medical journals while advocating this movement. His wife died after the war, having borne him four children: Robert M., a druggist; Charles

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M., a practicing physician of Kossuth; Mary M., who is the wife of a Mr. Rogers and resides at Grand Junction, Tenn .; and Andrew B., who died at the age of nineteen years, besides four others who died in early infancy. Dr. Taylor was married, the second time, to Miss Sallie Murray, a cousin of his first wife, she being reared and educated in Griffin, Ga. She has borne the Doctor three children, only one of whom is living at the present time: Beatrice M., the wife of Dr. Bishop, who is associated in the practice of his profession with his father- in-law, Dr. Taylor; Glenmore, a little daughter, died when less than a year old, while her mother was on a visit to friends in Georgia; and Rush died at the age of nine years, a hand- some and promising lad. The Doctor and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is president of the board of trustees. He was a member of the A. F. & A. M. When the war opened he volunteered as a surgeon in the Twenty-sixth Mississippi Volunteer infantry and served as such until the fall of Fort Donelson, when he was captured and taken to Mound City hospital, where he was kept for a short time. He was then removed to St. Louis, where he was paroled to go to Camp Chase. While there, General Halleck kindly changed the order and sent him, at his request, to Indianapolis, where he remained but one month. From that time until the prison on Johnson's island was ready for occupancy, he was at Camp Chase, after which he remained at the former place until surgeons were released, when he signed the cartel for the exchange of prisoners and was ferried across to Sandusky. Here he was left without friends or money, but he managed to make his way to Indianapolis, thence to Kentucky and home, but as the Federal troops occupied Corinth and vicinity includ- ing his home, he was compelled to procure another parole from the Federal commanders. After they had evacuated Corinth he reported for duty, but was not again called on for duty, as his health was greatly impaired by the hardships he had undergone. The Doctor says his treatment by the Federal officers was very good, the commanding officers being very lenient with him, and recites many interesting and pleasant incidents of prison life. Before the war he was a whig in politics, but since that time he has been a democrat, although he takes no active interest in political matters. The Doctor has a very large and valuable med- ical and literary library. He is a profound and earnest student on general as well as medical topics, and although a highly educated gentleman, he is modest and unassuming in manners.

Leroy T. Taylor, Verona, a substantial citizen of Lee county, Miss., was born in Itawamba county, Miss., December 10, 1845, and is a son of Col. Clark W. and Louisa J. (Keys) Taylor. His father was born in Oglethorpe county, Ga., in 1820, and was one of two children of Col. Swepson and Sarah T. (Mitchell) Taylor. The grandfather of our subject was a native of Virginia, born in 1796, and was a son of Clark Taylor. Sarah T. (Mitchell) Taylor was a daughter of Randolph Mitchell. The Mitchell family were of Scotch-Irish descent, and the Taylors were of English ancestry. Clark W. Taylor was educated in Georgia, and in 1842 embarked in the mercantile trade in connection with his agricultural interests. He was elected to the state senate before the war, and in 1839 he removed to Mississippi. He was a Mason, and in his political views he sympathized with the democratic party, although before the war he was a whig. He died at Verona, Miss., in 1886, at the age of sixty-six years. He served in the Civil war for one year. He was a member of the Baptist church, and was a zealous supporter of any cause which he espoused. He and his wife had these children: Leroy T., William C., Samuel M., Lilla B., wife of W. C. Raymond, and Charles H. living. James S. was killed at Fort Donelson, and was eighteen at the time of his death; Samnel T. died at the age of eleven years; Zachariah W. died in 1877; Joseph died in 1888. The mother of our subject, Louisa J. Keys, was a daughter of Judge James

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and Susan M. (Thomas) Keys. Her father was judge of the probate court, and was a prom- inent planter. She came to Mississippi at the age of seventeen years, and has resided here since that time. She lives in Verona. Leroy T. Taylor was reared to the life of a farmer, and received his education in the schools of his native state. At the age of sixteen years he enlisted in company B, First Mississippi volunteer infantry, and was in some of the most severe service of the war. He was captured at Fort Donelson, and was afterward released. He was in the battle of Shiloh; was honorably discharged at Tupelo, and assisted in forming a company, of which he was elected second lieutenant. He was in many of the most noted engagements, following that period, until April 2, 1865, when he received a gunshot wound in the head. He was paroled in the May following. In 1865 he embarked in the mercantile trade at Mooreville, and in the next year he removed to Shannon. In 1867 he sold out the entire concern, and went on the road as a traveling salesman. He still retains a small ter- ritory, in which he travels in the interest of B. Sonenshein & Bro., of Memphis, Tenn., but devotes the greater portion of the time to agriculture. In December, 1868, he was united in marriage to Miss Sallie C. Calhoun, a daughter of Dr. William H. and Jane S. (Orr) Calhoun. Dr. Calhoun was born and reared in South Carolina, and was a son of James and Sarah (Cald- well) Calhoun, and a nephew of John C. Calhoun. The Calhouns were of Scotch-Irish descent. The doctor was a planter and practicing physician. He represented Pontotoc county in the legislature of the state, and was a citizen whom all honored and respected. His wife was a sister of James S. Orr, speaker of the house before the war, governor of South Carolina after the war, and subsequently minister to Russia, in which country he died, at St. Petersburg. in 1871. Mrs. Taylor was born April 19, 1847, and was one of a family of six children, four of whom are living: Cornelia, now Mrs. Tankersley; John C., William H. and Mrs. Taylor. To our subject and wife have been born two daughters and one son: E. L., the wife of V. C. Kincannon; Nellie, a student at college; and Swepson D., a student at Iuka, Miss. The parents are members of the Baptist church. Mr. Taylor devotes his time to planting and to some business interests which he has in Plantersville, Lee county. Politic- ally he affiliates with the democratic party and strongly supports all its measures. He is a man of sterling traits of character, and has a host of friends and admirers in the community.

Hon. Robert Hudson Taylor, attorney, Sardis, Miss., is second in order of birth of five children born to Lawson G. and Augusta (Rawlings) Taylor, the father a native of Halifax county, Va., and the mother of North Carolina. Lawson G. Taylor came to Mississippi, when Robert Hudson was less than a year old, and located in Panola county, where he continued his occupation as a planter. His life was one of quiet, honest industry, and he died in 1871, at the age of sixty-five years. He was a modest, unpretentious man, and one of the county's best citizens. His father was a native of the Old Dominion, and his grandfather, Taylor, was a native of Wales, coming to this country at an early date and settling in Virginia. On the Rawlings side, Robert H. Taylor is of English extraction. The latter received a fair educa- tion in Panola county, where he was reared, and at the age of twenty-three years, while in the office of deputy circuit clerk of the county, he began the study of law. At the breaking out of war he enlisted in company H, Seventeenth Mississippi regiment of Panola vindicators, and was first lieutenant of the same, his company participating in the first battle of Manas- sas, Leesburg, and other sharp skirmishes. His company drifted down on the peninsula, between the York and James rivers. In 1862 he joined the cavalry, and was given command of company K, Valentine's regiment, and was in constant service until peace was declared. He was in the Georgia and Tennessee campaigns, was at Holly Springs when General Van Dorn attacked General Grant's depot of supplies, etc., and was in front of Vicksburg, under

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General Johnston. In fact he was in almost constant engagements, from the time he enlisted until the South laid down its arms. He was in the last fight of Forrest's command at Selma, Ala., and was in command of his regiment, which was surrendered by Gen. Dick Taylor in Alabama. Returning from the war, Mr. Taylor practiced law and farmed at Old Panola, then the county seat of Panola county. He selected as his life companion Miss Belle Alston, who was born in Mississippi, and who was the daughter of William and Mary (McLeod) Alston, natives of Georgia. The fruits of this union have been nine children: Mary Belle, Eugene B., Blanche Irene, Robert Hudson, Jr., James A., Clair and Edith. In 1873, the courthouse being removed to Sardis, Mr. Taylor followed and has since been a resident of that place. The same year he was elected to the state senate, held that honorable position for four years, and in 1890 was a member of the constitutional convention. As a lawyer, Mr. Taylor is straightforward, clear-headed, well-balanced and persevering. He has a large prac- tice, and is noted for pertinacity and strict fidelity to the interests of his clients. He is the owner of about five thousand acres of land in Panola county, and of this has about two thou- sand five hundred acres under cultivation. He is president of the Bank of Sardis, which has a capital of $75,000, with $10,000 surplus; it is doing a large business and is one of the most prosperous institutions in the county. Mr. Taylor is an excellent business man, and in all cir- cumstances he has been an earnest disciple of progress and enterprise, hence his life has been one of thrift and prosperity. As the guardian of the people's interests he has zealously prosecuted his undertakings, and has ever held the love and high esteem of his constituency. He is interested in whatever pertains to the welfare of his people. Mr. Taylor is an able attorney, an enterprising business man and a citizen of whom any country might well feel proud. He is pleasant and congenial and a fine conversationalist. Socially he is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

Judge L. Temple, Nettleton, Miss., was born in North Carolina, in 1814, and is a son of Burrel and Harriet Temple, also natives of North Carolina. The father was a democrat in his political belief, and a member of the Primitive Baptist church for fifty years. He was the able editor of two papers, known as the Primitive Baptist and the Freedom's Blade. He was connected with the former twenty-seven years, and with the latter fifteen years. He died in 1879, in North Carolina, on the place where he was born. His wife, Harriet, was the daughter of Henry Ivy, a native of North Carolina, born about 1705, and died in 1854. The subject of this notice received his education in the common schools, and was trained to the occu- pation of a farmer. In 1833, October 24th, he was married to Lydia Powell, who was born in North Carolina, March 20, 1811, a daughter of Matthew and Elizabeth Powell, natives of the same state. Five children were born of this union. The mother died October 12, 1879. The children were named as follows: Harriet, wife of Wesley Strickland, had seven children; Lucy A., deceased, married S. A. Shackford, and they had nine children; M. M. married Louisa Roberts, and they had born to them nine children, six of whom are living; Martha H. is the wife of J. G. Marlo, and the mother of three children; M. D., married Miss P. A. Riley, and they have five children, all of whom are living; he is a successful farmer, controll- ing one thousand acres of land, over three hundred of which are in a high state of cultiva- tion. He is one of the leading agriculturists, a liberal supporter of all public enterprises, and a citizen whom all honor and respect. All of the Judge's children are well settled in life, and are rearing children who will be an honor to their ancestry. Judge Temple has been prominently identified with the political history of his county. He is a stanch democrat, and has figured conspicuously in all the deliberations of that party. He has been justice of the peace three terms, and supervisor of the court seven terms. As he was president of

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court, at the time Lee county was organized, it became his duty, according to the existing laws, to order an election to vote upon organizing Lee county. He belongs to the Farmers' Alliance, and is a prohibitionist. He is a member of the Primitive Baptist church, and has always been a zealous worker in the cause of his Master. The Judge makes his home with his son, M. D. Temple, on the old plantation where he settled in 1848. He has witnessed a wonderful change in the face of nature since that time; then he could stand in his doorway and shoot deer, turkey, and other wild game, while the redman roamed at will, com prising the greater portion of the inhabitants. The Judge is still able to assist in overseeing the plantation, and is comparatively strong and hearty. His friends and admirers insist upon his allowing his name to be used as a candidate for the state legislature, but he has no ambition or inclination in that direction. Too much cannot be said in praise of those hardy souls who took upon themselves the burden of going to the frontier in pioneer days and laying the foundation of the present advanced civilization, and the generation of this day should not forget the debt of gratitude they owe to their ancestry for the comforts and lux- uries they now enjoy.

Moses R. Temple is one of the progressive planters of Lauderdale county, Miss., where he is the owner of one thousand two hundred and sixty acres of land, of which three hun- (red acres are under cultivation. This land is among the best in the county, and Mr. Temple being enterprising and energetic, it yields him large crops yearly. He was born in the county in which he now resides, in October, 1852, the fourth in a family of twelve children born to John W. F. and Sarah (Jones) Temple, the former of whom was born in North Carolina and the latter in Alabama. The mother was taken from the home of her birth to Kemper county, Miss., by her parents, when quite small, but Mr. Temple came to this section when a young man, and in Kemper county they met and married, remaining there about one year after their union. They then purchased land in Lauderdale county, and Mr. Temple made that the chief business of his life, accumulating a fair share of this world's goods. He was a member of the board of county supervisors for a number of years, and for about fourteen years filled the office of justice of the peace. He was well known throughout the county, and had the respect of all who knew him, for he possessed numerous worthy qualities. After a useful and well-spent life, he died at his home in this county, in 1880, his widow surviving him only three years. Of the children born to them, six sons and one daughter survive them. Moses R. Temple remained under the shelter of the parental roof until he was eighteen years of age, at which early age he was married to Miss Ella Shepherd, a daughter of Will- iam and Ann (Cochran) Shepherd, natives of Mississippi and Alabama, respectively, the former of whom was killed while serving in the Confederate army at the battle of Atlanta. His widow afterward married Reuben Smith, and at the present time is residing in Lauder- dale county. After his marriage Mr. Temple set energetically to work to make a competency for himself and family, and as above stated, is now the owner of one of the finest plantations in the county .. He held the office of justice of the peace for two years, and at one time was bailiff for a short time. Like his father before him he has many warm friends, and ranks high in the estimation of all who know him. He is deservedly considered a high-minded and honorable gentleman, and he and his wife are active and worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is also a member of the A. F. & A. M. and the Farm- ers' Alliance, and contributes liberally of his means to worthy causes. To himself and wife two daughters have been born: Hattie and Mabel.

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Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II, Part 139

Author: Goodspeed Brothers Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Number of Pages: 1314

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed
Number of Pages: 1314